Alcaraz saves face for Europe with Laver Cup win

Carlos Alcaraz scored a face-saving Saturday win to keep Europe from a day-long shutout on day 2 of the Laver Cup exhibition in London.

The world No. 2 who  missed nearly five months of this season with a wrist injury, handed his side two valuable points with a 6-4, 4-6, 13-11 defeat of Taylor Fritz of the Rest of the World lineup.

That late win knotted the cumulative scoreline at 5-5 with the three-day series at the O2 to be decided on Sunday.

Under the hybrid rules of the special event, final day wins each bring three points as opposed to two on the second day of play and one on the first.

Alcaraz settled a score with Fritz after losing to the American at the event a year ago.

The victory was the only one of the day for Europep in singles after losses from 

Flavio Cobolli and double grand Slam winner Alexander Zverev who went down 2-6, 7-6 (5), 11-9 to Aussie Alex de Minaur.

“Two great and tough losses today and obviously I was thinking a little bit about last year, [when) we lost every match on Saturday,” Alcaraz said.

“I was trying not to let it happen again. I was nervous at the beginning, I’m not going to lie. But really happy that I took the win at the end.”

The Spaniard with seven Grand Slam titles added a word on strategy:

“The drop shot is part of my game… I am trying to use it in my favour. I think the drop shots that I made in the match, I think that I won if not every drop shot, at least a really high percentage.

“In those really close and important moments, I tried to use it because it was a really good weapon for me in this match.”

The former No. 1 salvaged two match points in the final set tiebreaker – the fist with a timely ace as he fought to keep his European side in with a chance after a run of recent losses in the series.

Casper Ruud and Zverev later put Europe into 7-5 command with a 6-4, 7-6 (7) doubles win over Brandon Nakashima and Alexander Bublik.

Main photo:- Carlos Alcaraz defeating Taylor Fritz – by ATPTour.com